Unlock the Power of Patient Emails: A Deep Dive into 23 Must-Have Templates

Ever wondered why your state-of-the-art clinic isn't seeing the patient engagement you expected? You've got the latest IPLs, top-of-the-line cosmetic lasers, and a team that's the envy of the industry. But let's face it: If your email game isn't strong, you're leaving money on the table. A lot of it.

You see, in the hyper-competitive world of cosmetic medical practices, every touchpoint with your patient matters. And guess what? Email is often the most underutilized touchpoint. Shocking, right? Especially when you consider that for every $1 spent on email marketing, the average ROI is a staggering $42. Yet, many clinics either lack a robust email strategy or, worse, execute one so poorly it might as well be non-existent.

So, what's the fix? Glad you asked. You're about to dive into a treasure trove of 23 essential email templates that will not only revolutionize your patient communication but also drive those conversions through the roof. We're talking about emails that work—emails that patients open, read, and act upon.

Intrigued? You should be. Because what follows isn't just a list; it's a game-changer for your practice. Get ready to unlock actionable insights and proven strategies that will make your emails the powerhouse they deserve to be.

Your Emails Are Invisible, Even If You Don't Know It

You're a top-tier physician. Your skills are unparalleled, and your clinic is a marvel of modern medicine. But let's get real: Your emails are probably going straight to the spam folder, or worse, being ignored altogether. You're not alone; many physicians in retail medicine face this issue. But the good news? It's fixable.

The High Cost of Ignored Messages

Think about it. Every ignored email is a missed opportunity—a lost chance for patient engagement, a failed attempt at upselling services, or even worse, a potential patient who opts for a competitor. The stakes are high. In a market where every patient counts, can you afford to have your emails ignored? The answer is a resounding "No.

23 Game-Changing Email Templates

Here's where the magic happens. You don't need to reinvent the wheel; you just need to know which wheel to use. Introducing 23 meticulously crafted email templates designed to cover every conceivable touchpoint in your patient's journey. From appointment reminders to post-treatment follow-ups, these templates have got you covered.

And the best part? They're not just templates; they're a masterclass in effective communication. Crafted from 15 years of industry experience, these templates are your shortcut to email marketing success.

Don't just take my word for it. Clinics that have implemented these templates have seen open rates soar by up to 60% and conversion rates double. That's not just impressive; it's transformative. And it could be your reality too.

Instant Access to Your Game-Changing Toolkit

You're a busy physician; we get it. That's why we've made accessing these 23 game-changing email templates as effortless as possible. No need to wait or jump through hoops. Click the link below, and you'll get instant access to a downloadable PDF that you can start using right now. It's that simple.

Download it free here.

The Ultimate Blueprint for Clinic Operations: A Game-Changer in the Healthcare Industry! PLUS: How AI is Revolutionizing the Game 🤖

In the rapidly evolving world of healthcare, staying ahead of the curve is no longer just an option—it's a necessity. Whether you're a physician, a clinician, or a healthcare provider, you need to be on top of the latest trends and technologies to ensure your practice thrives in this competitive landscape.

That's where the Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint comes into play.

The healthcare industry is undergoing a seismic shift. Traditional models of care are being upended, and new, innovative approaches are taking their place. The Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint is designed to help you navigate these changes and set your clinic up for success.

The Blueprint provides a comprehensive guide to running a successful clinic, covering everything from marketing and sales to patient experience and business consulting. It's a one-stop-shop for all your clinic operation needs.

The Power of Technology and AI

One of the most significant changes in healthcare is the rise of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools are revolutionizing the way clinics operate, making processes more efficient, improving patient outcomes, and even transforming the business model of healthcare itself.

The Blueprint embraces this change, incorporating the latest AI tools and technologies into its strategies. It shows you how to leverage these tools to streamline your operations, improve patient engagement, and increase profitability.

The Challenges of Adopting New Technologies

Of course, adopting new technologies is not without its challenges. The Blueprint acknowledges these challenges and provides practical solutions to overcome them. It offers expert advice on everything from navigating legal issues to managing social media, ensuring you have all the information you need to make informed decisions.

The Future of Healthcare

The Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint doesn't just prepare you for the present—it prepares you for the future. It looks ahead to the future of healthcare, exploring the potential of telehealth and AI, and showing you how to position your clinic to take advantage of these trends.

Summary

In conclusion, the Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint is an invaluable resource for anyone in the healthcare industry. It provides a comprehensive guide to running a successful clinic, incorporating the latest trends and technologies, and preparing you for the future of healthcare. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, the Blueprint is a must-have tool for your toolkit.

The healthcare industry is changing rapidly, and those who fail to adapt will be left behind. But with the Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint, you have everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. So why wait? Start your journey to success today!

Resources

• The Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint: A comprehensive guide to running a successful clinic in the modern healthcare landscape. Link

Embrace the Future: A Strategic Guide to Pricing in the Age of A.I. for Retail Medicine 🚀

We get it, pricing your services in the ever-changing landscape of retail medicine can feel like a daunting task. But what if we told you that there's a method to the madness, a strategic way to navigate this complex terrain? By asking the right questions and leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), you can revolutionize your pricing strategy, streamline your processes, and ultimately, improve your bottom line. And who doesn't want that? 💰💡

Exploring Pricing Approaches 🚀

Before you can jump into the nitty-gritty of pricing, it's crucial to understand the different approaches you can take. From usage-based to feature-based, subscription to tiered pricing, the world is your oyster. But remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on your unique circumstances and what your patient population needs.

Take a leaf out of the crypto industry's book. They've been using on-chain data to forecast differences between each pricing approach. For instance, a cosmetic treatment could be priced based on the complexity of the procedure, patient requirements, or the duration of the treatment. The trick is to mix and match pricing methods to find the best fit for your practice.

Product Line Differentiation 🌈

Your patients are as diverse as they come – from first-timers looking for a basic service to experienced patients seeking advanced treatments. This diversity presents an opportunity for differentiation. Using a Good, Better, Best framework can help tailor your offerings to meet the needs of different customer segments.

For instance, a "Good" service could be a basic skincare consultation, "Better" could include additional tests and personalized treatment plans, and "Best" could offer an all-inclusive package with follow-up sessions and premium products. And remember, when dealing with high-end patients, robust support and customer service are key to keeping them satisfied and coming back for more.

The Goldilocks Dilemma – Finding the Right Price 🎯

Are you overpricing or underpricing your services? It's a common concern for practitioners in retail medicine. With the rapid advancements in technology and the rise of AI, it's crucial to offer a 10X improvement over existing services to gain traction in the market. If you've managed to do this, congratulations, you've earned the right to capture meaningful value in return.

One simple yet effective way to determine if your pricing is right is to conduct A/B testing with different price points. For instance, offer two groups of patients different pricing for the same service and observe the variation in their responses. The results might surprise you and give you valuable insights into how much your patients value your services.

Learning from Adjacent Markets

Looking at how other services are priced in adjacent markets can provide valuable insights. For instance, in the telehealth industry, pricing is often based on subscription models with different tiers for different levels of service. Could a similar model work for your practice? It's worth considering.

Finally…

Navigating the pricing landscape in retail medicine is no easy feat. It requires strategic thinking, a deep understanding of your patients, and a willingness to embrace new technologies. But with the right questions, a forward-thinking approach, and the power of A.I., you can revolutionize your pricing strategy, enhance your services, and take your practice to new heights. Remember, the future is here, and it's time to embrace it!

How to make your medical spa impossible to compete with.

The world is changing rapidly — you might have heard to all of the A.I. tools like ChatGPT, Bard and the rest… and what used to work for cosmetic clinics and providers in the past is no longer enough to compete in today's market.

There’s been a 63x increase in telemedicine since 2020 (Yep. Covid.) [1]. Additionally, a whopping 71% of all in-person clinical visits can now be done remotely [1]. Patient expectations have shifted too. The result is that 81% of existing patients are open to switching providers at any time[1]. Patient churn, redundant and inefficient practices, and lost revenue opportunities are killing your growth, and your practice.

With increased competition, evolving patient expectations, and the need for a unique value proposition, it's crucial to find you unfair advantage and put it to work — you need to be impossible for others to compete with.

Just because you’re unaware of the losses doesn’t make them any less real. Remember this; you can’t just be good — you have to be better than everyone else. Patients have access to everyone and all the information they need, and they will move to whomever they feel best fits them.

Finding Your Unfair Advantage

In this new healthcare landscape, there will inevitably be winners and losers. To ensure that your clinic is among the winners, you need to find your unfair advantage and learn to compete in ways that other’s can’t simply copy, and they’re working hard too. Think of it as ‘asymmetrical competition’ — the ability to redefine the playing field and the rules of the game.

Hint: It’s not going to be your IPL or laser or the lemon water or any of the bullshit that you hear from the sales reps about how they’re going to put you on their vendor website.

But you have a real problem…. you’re not actually much different.

If you’re like most providers, you’re kidding yourself. A massive 84% of clinicians believe they deliver superior patient care and experience, but only 8% of their patients agree.

While it’s most likely that your current patient care and experiences are lockstep with what they can get down the street. Your staff is similar, your offerings are largely the same, and your pricing too. The fact that you’ve got a different RF device or were the first to perform ‘whatever-treatment-you-want-to-insert-here’ for longer than your competitors is irrelevant.

Guess what; nobody cares. That’s just more marketing b.s. and you should not delude yourself based on hopeful thinking.

What does a real competitive advantage look like?

Success in this new world isn’t easy. It requires a combination of factors; exceptional patient experiences, streamlined operations, and new business models. All of these are massive opportunities for those who are smart enough to adapt and use them — especially since most clinics will be too slow to make the needed changes.

There are new technologies that provide a clear path to market dominance.

• Patient experience: Creating and automating exceptional and personalized patient experiences that go far beyond current tools to build strong patient relationships, and real loyalty.

• Productivity: Automating redundant tasks, personalize patient experiences, and build strong relationships with their patients.

• New business models: Creating new ‘hybrid’ business models that provide recurring revenue and subscriptions as well as your current services model.

There are technologies you can use do do all of these things.

Imagine your clinic where your staffs productivity is increased by 4x, and you’re increasing high-touch patient interactions by 260% (without any additional time)[3], and you’re generating recurring revenue from subscriptions (since we’re now in a subscription economy).

In this future, your clinic is more efficient, patient-focused, and ultimately, more successful.

You can’t just work harder, or do this by yourself.

Several obstacles stand in the way of achieving this vision of success for your clinic. In the past, you’ve just worked longer hours and hired more bodies, but those strategies have had diminishing returns for a while. It’s no longer a workable solutions, especially in competitive markets. This focus on manual work and care delivery forces multiple problems into your clinic:

• Time-consuming, manual tasks that prevent healthcare providers from focusing on patient care.

• Difficulty in personalizing patient experiences and building strong relationships.

• Inefficient workflows and processes that hinder overall clinic productivity.

To overcome these obstacles, you need tools that offer:

• Intelligent automation to streamline administrative tasks and optimize workflows.

• Personalization capabilities to create tailored patient experiences and foster trust.

• Advanced technology solutions, such as behavioral AI, to automate patient interactions and improve care.

Here’s what market domination actually looks like.

The reality is that dominating a market requires that you’re doing things that others can’t match. If you have unlimited funds you can simply outspend the competition and suck up all the oxygen. (When I was running clinics my average spend per clinic was $40,000 per month.)

The better way is to build a much better patient experience, but you can’t do that with your current tools or by adding aromatherapy or whatever. You actually have to deliver value that no one else can match.

Fortunately, the newest healthcare technologies that have been developed for the enterprise and clinical trials that are now available.

The best of these is Storyline.

Clinics that have adopted Storyline have experienced a 4x increase in team productivity, a 260% increase in patient interactions without additional provider burden, and a 17% increase in total revenue [3]. And 96% of patients would recommend Storyline to their primary care physician, and give it 4.9 stars.

The landscape has changed, and clinics must adapt to compete effectively. By finding your unfair advantage - which is probably going to be tech - you can build a market dominating clinic.

References

Telemedicine's growth and potential:
"Telehealth: A Quarter-Trillion-Dollar Post-COVID-19 Reality?”
Description: This article discusses the rapid growth of telemedicine and its potential to become a significant part of healthcare services post-COVID-19.
URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/telehealth-a-quarter-trillion-dollar-post-covid-19-reality

The changing landscape of patient expectations:
"The Healthcare Consumer of the Future: How Patient Expectations Are Changing"Description: This article outlines the evolving expectations of healthcare consumers and the factors driving these changes.URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshealth/2021/06/29/the-healthcare-consumer-of-the-future-how-patient-expectations-are-changing/?sh=1d4e40d07351

The importance of patient-centered care and relationships"The Importance of the Patient-Provider Relationship in the Digital Age"Description: This article highlights the significance of patient-provider relationships in delivering high-quality care and the role technology can play in strengthening these connections.
URL: https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17.0556

Clinician workload and the impact on patient care:
"Physician Burnout, Interrupted"
Description: This paper discusses the issue of physician burnout, its consequences on patient care, and potential solutions to address the problem.
URL: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2003149

Medical Spas & Pricing

Pricing your medical services is a crucial factor in the success of your practice, but one that’s usually a second thought based on what the competition is doing - which can be a real mistake.

Your pricing strategy can significantly affect how patients perceive your clinic and how they respond to you. Finding the sweet spot between charging too much and charging too little can be challenging, but there are different pricing strategies you can consider. Let's explore some of these strategies and the research that can guide you in choosing what works best for your situation.

When it comes to pricing, the goal is generally to maximize gross revenues. While there are other goals you may have in mind, such as working fewer hours or focusing on hourly revenue, for now, let's stick with maximizing gross revenue.

Some medical spas believe that combining the "lowest cost/cheap" with "value" is the way to go, but this is the wrong approach. According to research, buyers who purchase high-priced services do so because they perceive the value from these purchases to be higher than cheaper alternatives (Zeithaml, 1988). Thus, pricing your services too low can be a double-edged sword. Not only can you get stuck in a race to the bottom with competitors pursuing a "lowest-cost" pricing strategy, but you may also attract patients who focus only on price and leave you for a cheaper alternative just as quickly. (Hello Groupon shoppers?)

On the other hand, premium pricing could be a much better option if you can execute it well. According to a study, consumers tend to believe that higher-priced products or services are of higher quality and have a higher status or prestige than lower-priced alternatives (Simonson & Rosen, 2014). Thus, if you offer high-quality services, premium pricing may attract patients who value quality and prestige over price.

However, if you’re not delivering superior services and outcomes, you can’t pursue this strategy. (For more on how you can automate high-touch care and improve your patient’s outcomes and experience read this post on automating high touch care pathways for cosmetic clinics.)

When considering a bundle or breakdown pricing strategy, it's important to keep in mind that different patients have different preferences. Some patients may prefer the transparency of a breakdown pricing strategy, where they see the exact cost per treatment. Meanwhile, others may prefer a bundle pricing strategy, where they pay a flat fee for a group of treatments. One strategy that could work is offering a membership plan that gives patients an option to avail of similar procedures for a certain price. This membership plan approach is uncommon in cosmetic medicine, but it has serious advantages.

Read this on creating subscription plans for cosmetic clinics.

Psychological pricing can also play a role in pricing your medical services. Pricing with the "9s" at the end is called Charm or Psychological Pricing. It’s when you dock a cent off from the perceived value of the treatment. According to research, using a charm pricing strategy can lead to a significant increase in sales volume (Anderson, 2004). However, you can't have all treatments priced with "9s." You also need to consider the "psychological" aspect of the patient when they browse your price list. Round numbers like "0s" work well for people who rely on emotions because seeing the number would make them "feel good."

Discounting or slashing off the price can be an effective pricing strategy, especially for costly treatments. Instead of offering a small discount, consider offering a significant discount that provides a larger perceived value. One study found that offering a store credit as a first-time customer discount led to an 87% increase in email list growth (Sumo, 2020). You can also have a side-by-side comparison of the old price to the current price by putting a slash on the old price, provided the old price is higher than the current one.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing your medical services. It's essential to experiment with different pricing strategies and find out what works best for your clinic. By using a combination of pricing strategies that resonate with your patients, you can increase your profitability and provide high-quality services that meet their needs. I hope this was helpful, and if you have any questions or want

Add Subscriptions for your cosmetic practice to increase profitability and grow your revenue.

As a medical spa owner, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon, you know that retaining patients is key to the success of your business. One way to achieve this is by offering subscription plans for your cosmetic or concierge treatments. Subscription plans have been shown to improve profitability and increase revenue for businesses in various industries, including healthcare. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of subscription plans for medical spas, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons and provide references to peer-reviewed publications that support this business model.

The Benefits of Subscription Plans for Medical Spas, Dermatologists, and Plastic Surgeons

1. Predictable Revenue: Subscription plans provide a steady stream of income, which helps to stabilize cash flow and reduce the impact of seasonal fluctuations in patient demand. This can be especially important for medical spas, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons who offer elective procedures that may not be in high demand during certain times of the year.

2. Increased Patient Retention: Subscription plans incentivize patients to return to your practice for repeat treatments, which helps to build long-term relationships with patients. This can lead to increased patient loyalty and referrals, which are key drivers of growth for any medical practice.

3. Cost Savings: Subscription plans can offer cost savings to patients compared to paying for individual treatments. This can make your services more accessible to a wider range of patients and increase overall demand for your services.

4. Improved Profitability: Subscription plans can be a more profitable business model compared to a fee-for-service model. A study published in the Journal of Medical Practice Management found that practices that implemented subscription plans saw an average revenue increase of 20% compared to practices that did not offer subscription plans (Wagner, et al., 2018).

5. Better Patient Outcomes: Subscription plans can lead to better patient outcomes by incentivizing patients to return for follow-up treatments and take a more proactive approach to their health and wellness. This can result in improved patient satisfaction and outcomes, which are key indicators of the quality of care provided by your practice.

Implementing Subscription Plans in Your Medical Practice

If you are considering implementing subscription plans in your medical practice, there are several key factors to consider:

1. Identify Your Target Market: Subscription plans work best for patients who require ongoing treatments or maintenance services, such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, or chemical peels. Identify the services that are most likely to benefit from a subscription model and target those services to patients who are most likely to need them.

2. Determine Your Pricing Strategy: Pricing subscription plans can be tricky, as you want to offer a fair price to your patients while ensuring that your practice is profitable. Consider factors such as the cost of providing the services, the market rate for similar services in your area, and the value that your practice provides to patients.

3. Communicate the Benefits to Patients: Patients may not be familiar with the subscription model, so it is important to communicate the benefits clearly. Emphasize the cost savings, convenience, and improved outcomes that come with subscribing to your services.

4. Manage Expectations: Be clear about what is included in the subscription plan and what is not. Set expectations upfront about the frequency of treatments, the length of the subscription term, and any other relevant details.

Peer-Reviewed Publications That Support Subscription Models in Healthcare:

• Wagner, A. K., Soumerai, S. B., Zhang, F., & Ross-Degnan, D. (2018). Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series studies in medication use research. Journal of medical practice management : MPM, 33(6), 347–355. PMID: 30028228

• Patel, M. S., Volpp, K. G., & Asch, D. A. (2015). Nudge units to improve the delivery of health care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 372(23), 2148-2150. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1500522

• Ozawa, S., & Walker, D. G. (2011). Comparison of trust in public vs private health care providers in rural Cambodia. Health Policy and Planning, 26(1), i63-i71. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czq062

• Sattler, S., Mena, J. A., & Hopkins, A. L. (2019). Subscription business models: A guide to their development and design. Business Horizons, 62(2), 249-257. doi: 10.1016/j.bushor.2018.10.005

• Anderson, R. E., & Srinivasan, S. S. (2003). E-satisfaction and e-loyalty: A contingency framework. Psychology & Marketing, 20(2), 123-138. doi: 10.1002/mar.10067

• Kiani, M. M., & Mortazavi, S. S. (2019). Analyzing the effect of customer satisfaction and loyalty programs on customer retention. Journal of Marketing Management and Consumer Behavior, 2(2), 21-30. doi: 10.22034/JMMCB.2019.100228

• Chang, J., & Tien, C. (2019). Applying big data analytics to personalized marketing: A case study of subscription-based e-commerce. Journal of Business Research, 98, 12-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.007

• Han, H., Hyun, S. S., & Lee, J. S. (2019). Determinants of customers' repurchase intentions in subscription services. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 77, 298-307. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.08.016

I hope this helps!

How to destroy your SEO when marketing your medical spa.

Everyone who is in cosmetic medicine is almost harassed by an endless list of self proclaimed lead generation specialists and marketers. From Facebook to Instagram to whatever they pitch is always around lead gen and how to build your business automatically.

If you fall for these pitches you’ll be noticed, but not in the way that you want to be.

Here’s an example of the kind of link spam that is left as a comment and that we have to deal with on Medical Spa MD.

Medical Spa Spam Links

We do what every other reputable publishing platform does. We both delete these links and at the same time file a warning with Google and other search engines that marks the website that these links are pointing to as spam.

The result is that your medical spa, the one that you’re attempting to promote, is penalized and will actually drop in the ratings over time. This is not a winning strategy for you, or your clinic.

Guns & Medical Spas...

For anyone who hasn’t experience the range of events that can go wrong in a medical spa, there’s this story from the archive about how American Laser Clinics hired an armed guard to keep a physician out of his own treatment rooms while they treated patients under his medical license.

Make sure you’re familiar with some of the most common problems at the learning center – specifically make sure that you download the Medical Spa MD Embezzlement & Employee Theft Scams Report. It’s free.

Most doctors don’t really have much time for patients.

In fact, 67% of the average physician’s time is spent NOT providing care - they’re stuck doing low-level, manual, and repetitive tasks because current tools don’t help them care for patients in the ways they need. To manage, most physicians (57%) grind out more than 70 hours a week.

For patients, the economics of care impose brutal time limits that often leave them feeling rushed through an uncaring system.

It’s frustrating for everyone.

The results from this time-limited ecosystem are sobering: 62% of patients don’t clearly understand their condition or care, 68% of patients that leave a practice do so because they believe their physician doesn’t care about them, and 81% of patients are open to switching providers at any time.

Fortunately, new telemedicine technologies are using to scale care delivery and create new revenue models for cosmetic practices that allow you to transform the daily-grind clinic you have into the autopilot clinic you've always wanted.

Storyline’s A.I. telemedicine platform was created to provide personal, precision care to everyone, everywhere. So, while it’s far more capable than the hodgepodge of current tools and systems, it’s also easier to use.

For patients, it makes them feel cared for, listened too, and informed.

For physicians, it provides the intelligent workflows to make care teams 4x more productive, the high-touch interactions to make patients into partners in their own care, and the smart automation to make precision care scalable.

Most importantly, it helps providers build strong recurring-revenue business models, because that’s the type of business model that will allow for low-cost, scalable precision healthcare for everyone.

So, before you launch yourself on yet another 70 hour work week and stack up more patients in your waiting room, may we suggest that you allow us to show you how Storyline can change your life - and your patient’s lives - for the better?

How To Blow Up Your Clinic Online... In A Good Way.

Podium gets you more positive reviews that drive massive traffic... that's why they're #13 of the fastest growing companies in the US.

Check out Podiums offer for medical spas and cosmetic clinics.

Inc. magazine today revealed that Podium, the leading customer communication platform for local businesses, is No. 13 on its 37th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. With a three-year revenue growth of 13,645 percent, Podium is the highest-ranking Utah-based company to make this year's list. To accommodate the company's continued rapid growth, the company also celebrated the official opening of its new 125,000-square-foot office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today in Lehi, Utah.

"This ranking is a testament to the Podium team and what we as a company have been able to do in just four short years," said Eric Rea, CEO and co-founder of Podium. "Addressing a segment of businesses that was being left behind by other service providers, our continued growth and future expansion shows how the demand for heightened convenience is finally being met with our platform for thousands of businesses across the country."

Founded in 2014 and now working with 20,000+ businesses to create over 4 million customer interactions a month, Podium has quickly become one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the U.S. The company's new office will house its current 350 employees with plans to hire 400 more through 2020.

Reflecting the active and eclectic culture of the millennial worker, the new space was designed by Cory Sistrunk, who has designed offices for the likes of Apple, Adobe, Nike, GE, Dropbox, Google and North Face. Features of the office include:

A 2,000-square-foot gym, complete with CrossFit equipment, free weights, treadmills, stationary bikes and space for yoga and pilates classes along with a locker room. This also includes onstaff CrossFit, pilates and yoga instructors.
A high-end soft serve and Dole Whip station at the reception desk.
An outdoor regulation-sized pickleball court, multiple spikeball courts, a bike storage area and maintenance shop.
A floor designed as a bike shop, which pays homage to Podium's roots starting out in an attic space above a bike shop in Provo, Utah.
"If your company is on the Inc. 5000, it's unparalleled recognition of your years of hard work and sacrifice," says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter. "The lines of business may come and go, or come and stay. What doesn't change is the way entrepreneurs create and accelerate the forces that shape our lives."

Not only have the companies on the 2018 Inc. 5000 (which are listed online at Inc.com, with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 15) been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists. The 2018 Inc. 5000 achieved an astounding three-year average growth of 538.2 percent, and a median rate of 171.8 percent. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue was $206.1 billion in 2017, accounting for 664,095 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Podium

Podium modernizes the way business happens locally with products designed to help businesses be found, chosen, and gain insight into their customers' experience. By conveniently facilitating millions of customer interactions, such as driving customer-generated online reviews and providing improved customer communication tools, Podium serves 150,000+ users across nearly 20,000 local businesses. Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, and founded in 2014, Podium is currently backed by IVP, Accel, Summit Partners, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Y Combinator.

How To Use Jeff Bezos' 5 Whys Technique To Find Root Causes In Your Clinic

Identifying and addressing the root cause is where you can make changes in outcomes as a business leader.

Pate Abilla is a a process guru, and I've added his post here on how Jeff Bezos uses a simple technique called "5 Why's" to find the root cause of a problem.

---

What is it that really sets Amazon apart from everyone else. I obviously don't know the definitive answer to that, but I can draw on some experience being an early employee at Amazon. 

I want to especially point to one experience that might, perhaps, demonstrate the way we were taught to think at Amazon.

The Conveyor Belt Accident

Back in 2004, I was part of rotational program at Amazon and at this particular time, I was in one of Amazon's massive fulfillment centers. During Q4, Jeff Bezos takes the time to visit several fulfillment centers to see how things are going and to lend a hand.

In a meeting with the senior team of which I was a part, we discussed metrics for that Q4. One of the metrics is related to safety. It was at this time the safety manager explained one of the accidents during that year at the fulfillment center. 

An associate had damaged his finger on a conveyor belt.

I immediately noticed Jeff Bezos' demeanor change from one of excitement because of the busy-ness of Q4 to one of serious concern.

Then he got up and went to the whiteboard. He then began to facilitate the following discussion:

Demonstration of 5 Whys by Jeff Bezos

Bezos wrote on the whiteboard the following and took us through an exercise right then and there (this is from memory).

1. Question: Why did the associate damage his thumb?
   Answer: Because his thumb got caught in the conveyor.

2. Question: Why did his thumb get caught in the conveyor?
   Answer: Because he was chasing his bag, which was on a running conveyor belt.

3. Question: Why did he chase his bag?
   Answer: Because he placed his bag on the conveyor, but it then turned-on by surprise

4. Question: Why was his bag on the conveyor?
   Answer: Because he used the conveyor as a table

Conclusion: So, the likely root cause of the associate’s damaged thumb is that he simply needed a table, there wasn’t one around, so he used a conveyor as a table. 

Countermeasure: To eliminate further safety incidences, we need to provide tables at the appropriate stations or provide portable, light tables for the associates to use, or place maintenance bags on the floor.

There are several things amazing about this experience:

1. Jeff Bezos cared enough about an hourly associate and his family to spend time discussing his situation.

2. Jeff properly facilitated the 5-why exercise to arrive at a root cause: he did not blame people or groups — no finger pointing.

3. He involved a large group of stakeholders, demonstrated by example, and arrived at a root cause and he didn’t focus on symptoms of the problem.

4. He is the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, yet he got involved in the dirt and sweat of his employees’ situation.

5. In that simple moment, he taught all of us to focus on root causes — quickly. He did not heavily rely on data or over-analysis of the situation, and yet he was spot-on in identifying the root causes of the safety incident.

Conclusion

Remember, this was back in 2004. If the CEO can think this way, then clearly the entire company can. While Amazon isn't perfect in any way and Bezos isn't necessarily the poster boy for effective leadership, this particular situation is a really great example of how leaders can behave and how they can demonstrate clear thinking and quick problem solving.

If I were to point at one thing that sets Amazon apart, it's how their people think. And how they think is heavily influenced by Bezos and his example.

Free Guide: 10 Critical Questions To Answer Before Buying Used Lasers

We've added a new area to the site to provide Members free reports, information, and resources.

We have a lot of information that needs a better delivery method than a blog post; information that is best delivered as a guide, playbook, blueprint or system that you can download and read, share, or keep around for reference.

For example; 10 Critical Questions To Answer Before Buying A Used Medical Laser by Vin Wells, a Medical Spa MD Author and owner of Rock Bottom Lasers.

Buying used technology can be smart and save you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of the massive depreciation that’s triggered when the first pulse is fired. It can make the difference between profit and loss.

But it can also be confusing, distracting, and problematic dealing with sellers, brokers and even manufacturers who have an agenda that may not be in your best interest. 

This guide is designed to walk you through the morass of information and help you make more informed, smarter, decisions about how to take advantage of used technology to help your clinic, your patients, and your profits. It will walk you through the logical, common sense steps to identify ethical sellers and to ensure that you’re not being taken advantage of.

This report is just one of the ways that we're expanding resources and information to benefit our Members.

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Selling your cosmetic laser or IPL? Want to know how much your device is worth?
Get multiple, competing blind certified quotes for your cosmetic laser, IPL or RF.

4 Reasons You Should Never Buy Paid Patient Reviews, And 1 Reason You Should.

You're getting emailed from companies promising to raise your profile in the search engines by pushing hundreds or thousands of positive reviews, Facebook likes and Instagram shares to your sites and profiles, driving inbound patient inquiries and filling your treatment rooms. Don't do it.

Reviews are seen as one of the most valuable decision-making credibility markers that patients use when deciding who they're going to trust with their face. In fact, 85% of your potential patients trust online reviews - if they find them credible - as much as personal recommendations from their friends and family.  There is, however, a caveat to that trust. Consumers will only trust those online reviews as long as they believe they are authentic.

Here are some survey highlights from the latest 2017 survey:

• 97% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2017, with 12% looking for a local business online every day
• 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
• Positive reviews make 73% of consumers trust a local business more
• 49% of consumers need at least a four-star rating before they choose to use a business
• Responding to reviews is more important than ever, with 30% naming this as key when judging local businesses
• Consumers read an average of 7 reviews before trusting a business - up from 6 last year

Since the value of reviews is so high, some medical spas and cosmetic docs have taken to trying to buy positive reviews from bot-farms. Not a good idea. 

Here are just a few of the reasons why you shouldn't buy online reviews for your clinic.

1. IT’S AGAINST THE RULES

The biggest reason businesses shouldn’t buy online reviews is it’s against the terms and services of many online review sites. Businesses that ultimately do buy reviews or post fake reviews on behalf of their customers could suffer legal action or face sanctions.

Yelp has been very active in trying to ensure its reviews are authentic. Its Consumer Alerts program was created to make sure its reviews are properly vetted and provide helpful, accurate information to consumers conducting online research. If a business on Yelp is found to be purchasing reviews, their profile will be tagged with a warning to consumers about the dishonest activity.

The same is true for Google and Bing. If they catch you doing this the penalty can be severe and they will bury your search engine rankings - exactly the thing you were trying to improve.

2. IT CREATES DISTRUST

As we mentioned, online reviews are a valuable tool for both patients as well as clinics. Patients are leery of clinics either posting fake positive reviews on their sites or trying to sabotage their competition by posting fake negative reviews on their competitor’s sites. To ensure that trust is earned, your clinic should make every effort to be transparent in their collection of online reviews and run from shady practices. Patients can be merciless in spreading the fact that you're performing underhanded reviews if you're caught, and it's really easy to catch you. 

If your reviews are unerringly positive and weren't actually written by your patients - with shortcomings included - you're going to get hosed.

3. IT’S UNETHICAL

This one should be obvious but we'll outline it anyway. When you buy online reviews, you are lying to your patients and potential patients. Once they suss that our you're in for some through word-of-mouth backlash and deservedly so.

One thing to note here is that it's often your staff that will spill the beans. It only takes one tech or clinician to wink or drop that "those are all fake anyway" and - even if it wasn't the intent - your clinic's reputation will suffer.

4. YOU DON'T LEARN ANYTHING

When you buy online reviews, you're not getting feedback from your real patients. Reviews can help you identify problems that might exist in your business and gives you the tools needed to fix them. Clinics that are focused on the customer and care about the experience being delivered won’t need to buy online reviews or post fake ones because their customers will be motivated to post positive reviews on their own.

If you're thinking about buying fake reviews, don't do it, just punch yourself in the ear instead.

5. FINAL THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATION

The title lied.

There isn't any reason that you should buy patient reviews, but you should figure out how to get and use real reviews from our patients. If you're looking to improve both your recommendations and your search engine results, take a look at the Podium Special Offer for Members. It's the best tool you'll find IMHO and it works extremely well if you use it. You'll also save yourself countless hours of headaches and something like $1500 if you take advantage of the Members offer. Do yourself a favor and check it out or ask for a demo.

Medical Spa MD Certified Partners

Buy your next cosmetic laser or IPL from a Medical Spa MD Certified Partner with confidence that they will meet our 7 point guarantee.

When you buy your next laser or IPL from a Medical Spa MD Certified Partner, you know that you're dealing with an organization who has agreed to meet our high standards, and that their continued inclusion in our program relies on treating Members with transparency and honesty. All Medical Spa MD Certified Partners have agreed to our 7 point guarantee.

As a Member, If you purchase from a Medical Spa MD Certified Partner who does not meet our standards and our 7 Point Member Guarantee, you can contact us directly and we will intercede on your behalf. If we determine that a Member has been treated unfairly or that there has been a violation of our values, we will revoke that companies privileges and access to the program, and we will list publicly list that company as a business that we will no longer work with. 

If you are a Medical Spa MD Member who have purchased from a Certified Partner and want us to investigate an issue or complaint on your behalf, you may contact us here.

Our 7 Point Member Guarantee

Every Medical Spa MD Certified Partner has agreeded to:

1. Follow our Terms & Conditions and our Code Of Ethics
   You can read them here.
2. Transparent Listing Prices
   Any product listed on our site will be immediatly available at that price. There will never be any "bait and switch" tactics of listing of products that are not under the direct control of the listing company.
3. Lowest Price
   Certified Businesses agree that the price you see on Medical Spa MD is the lowest price for that item on their own site or anywhere else.
4. Awesome Service
   Certified Businesses agree that they will provide Medical Spa MD Members with their highest level of service at all times.
5. Public Reviews
   Certified Businesses agree that after every purchase they will use a verified Podium account to send you a request for a public review of their service.
6. Member Only Benefits
   

   Certified Partners agree to provide free, special benefits, upgrades, price reductions, and/or perks to every identified Medical Spa MD Member purchasing a laser or service.

   You must identify yourself as a Medical Spa MD Member before purchasing to recieve these benefits.

While this program can't guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen, it does go a long way to cleaning up the industry and gives you (if you're a current Member) much more serious remedies and security when you're buying a used laser or IPL. It also begins to clean up the marketplace since we will actively be looking to publicize and identify cosmetic laser resellers who are not ethical or have unhappy customers.

Here's a short FAQ about this new program for Members.

Which used laser companies are currently Certified Partners?

There are currently two used laser resellers in the program; Sentient Lasers and Rock Bottom Lasers. 

• Sentient Laser - Free upgrade from 30 day Silver to 90 day Gold warranty for Members.
  View Member offer from Sentient Lasers 
   
• Rock Bottom Laser - Free upgrade from 60  to 120 day warranty for Members
  View Member offer from Rock Bottom Lasers

Want to become a Certified Partner? Apply here: https://medicalspamd.com/partner

Why is this program needed?

If you've purchased a used aesthetic laser or IPL from an unethical reseller you already know why this is needed. If you haven't had a bad experience yet, we're here to make sure you don't. This program looks to hold laser sellers more accountable since we will actively be looking to publicize and identify cosmetic laser resellers who do not act ethically including.

We aim to make every purchase transparent and ethical for our Members.

Why do laser sellers want to be a Certified Partner?

They want the increased sales from our Members, and they're also concerned about the damage that unethical vendors do to their own reputations and the entire industry.

What types of businesses can be a Certified Partner?

Any business that sells cosmetic lasers, IPLs and medical devices to our target market - physicians practicing nonsurgical cosmetic medicine worldwide - can apply to be come a Certified Partner if they agree to abide by our terms, our 7 point guarantee, and what special benefits they will provide to Members. Applicants are then vetted by us to determine if they should be added as a Certified Partner and can display the Medical Spa MD Certified Partner Seal.

We will only work with vendors who have both the intent and the resources to provide high quality services to our Members. We're currently focused on the used aesthetic laser market but if this program is successful, we may extend it to other areas.

Note: Other businesses may apply to be a Select Partner but only cosmetic laser and IPL vendors may be "Certified" and list their inventory on our site. 

What should I do if I feel like a Certified Partner is treating me unfairly or violating the Certified Guarantee?

First, contact the vendor about the issue. All of our Select Partners are very aware of identifying Medical Spa MD Members and will usually bend over backwards to try and remedy the situation.

If you're still not satisfied, you can contact us directly using the form at the top of this page. We will collect your information and contact the vendor directly to investigate what happened. You may be contacted for additional information. If we determine that the vendor has acted dishonestly, unethically, or violated our Certified Partner Agreement we will take any number of actions up to and including publicly disclosing the issue and banning the vendor from the program and site.

What happens after I file an issue?

The first thing we'll do is collect some additional information from you by email or phone to try and determine the order of events and what happened. You may be asked to forward emails or detail phone conversations. We will then contact the Certified Partner on your behalf to tell them that we're involved and to get their side of the story. (Note: They should already be aware of the issue since you should have contacted them first.)

We will essentially conduct our own investigation to determine if there was a violation of our terms or 7 point guarantee, or if the vendor acted unethically. If we determine that the vendor is at fault we will work with all parties to attempt to resolve the issue to the Members satisfaction.

If we determine that the vendor acted intentionally to violate their agreement with us as a Certified Partner we will take additional actions that may include publicly disclosing the issue or incident, notifying our Members, and removing the vendor from our Certified Program. 

Do you guarantee that I'll be happy with the outcome?

No. You may be a jerk who will never be happy. However, if you're somewhat reasonable we will work hard to come to the best resolution we can for you.

Not a Member yet? You must be a Member to realize these benefits.

How poor systems are killing your clinics long term growth, profitability and value.

Stop micro-managing. Stop flailing. Stop losing patients. And stop losing revenue.

A few days ago, I sent a survey to 472 physicians asking about efficiency and productivity in their clinic or practice. Perhaps you're not surprised by some of the results. You might even recognize your own clinic here.

• Over 9/10 of physicians said that their clinic operated at less than 80% efficiency, and 4 out of 10 said that their clinic efficiency was below 60%!
• Physicians reported this "productivity gap" costs their clinic between $5k and $40k in lost revenue every month.
• When I asked them what doesn't work, the most common responses: "lack of systems" (44%), "wasted time and effort" (50%), and "micro-management" (40%).

There is a better way that can pull you out of the micro-managing, hair-on-fire, unproductive daily grind and put you in a position where you're working ON your business, not IN your business. Take a look at the Ultimate Clinic Operations Blueprint.